OAKLEY, T.H.: Multiple lines of evidence support the independent origin of an arthropod compound eye One of the most debated issues in arthropod evolution is whether compound eyes evolved once or multiple times. One reason this issue has remained unresolved is that most previous researchers have relied on single lines of evidence. Here I present […]

Hochberg, R.: Function and systematic distribution of helicoidal muscles in Gastrotricha Studies on the muscular system of gastrotrichs revealed the presence of muscles in a new orientation, that of left- and right-handed helices around the digestive tract. These helicoidal muscles are found on the pharynx and intestine of numerous species in both orders, Chaetonotida and […]

Hayes, K.H.*; Karl, S.A.: Evolution of the �Corona Complex� Within the Genus Melongena (Gastropoda:Melongenidae): Evidence From Internal Transcribed Spacers and Microsatellite Data Gastropods are an exceptionally speciose and diverse group of marine invertebrates, having undergone numerous adaptive radiations during their long evolutionary history. This diversity combined with their conspicuousness in the marine environment make them […]

BETTENCOURT, B.R.*; FEDER, M.E.: Concerted evolution and concerted degeneration at the hsp70 genes and pseudogenes of the Drosophila melanogaster species subgroup. To determine how the hsp70 genes (4-5 copies total, at two chromosomal loci) coevolved with the diversification of the D. melanogaster species subgroup, we sequenced multiple alleles of each gene in representative species. The […]

MUELLER, R.L.: Who needs a nucleus? Red blood cells in the genus Batrachoseps Some species of lungless salamanders, family Plethodontidae, have blood containing enucleated red cells. Unlike nearly all mammals, which possess uniformly enucleated RBC’s, these salamanders have both enucleated and nucleated RBC’s present in their circulation at all times. In some cases, the percentage […]

Filoramo, N.I.*; Schwenk, K.: Ultrastructure of the lingual surface in anguimorph lizards and snakes: evolutionary and functional implications. In squamates, one of the tongue’s roles is to collect chemicals from the environment. Both volatile and non-volatile chemicals are delivered to the vomeronasal chemosensory organs (VNOs). The information gained from these chemicals allows squamates to find […]

WINNE, C. T. *; KECK, M. B.: The Historical Evolution of Thermal Physiology in the Diamondback Watersnake, Nerodia rhombifer We investigated three laboratory measures of thermal physiology in the diamondback watersnake, Nerodia rhombifer, along a latitudinal gradient spanning 12 degrees in latitude and including individuals from three populations in Southern Texas (26,o 03’), one population […]

Owerkowicz, T.*; Brainerd, E. L.; Carrier, D. R.: Electromyographic pattern of the gular pump in monitor lizards. Gular pumping has recently been shown to play an important role in lung ventilation of monitor lizards but its evolutionary origin has not yet been investigated. To compare this mechanism with the amphibian buccal pump, we studied the […]

TRACY, C. R.*; DIAMOND, J.: Altitudinal variation in effects of hibernation and feeding on nutrient uptake in chuckwallas (Sauromalus obesus: Iguanidae) We examined the effects of hibernation and fasting on intestinal glucose and proline uptake rates of chuckwallas. These lizards show dramatic geographic variation in body size and growth rate that parallels an altitudinal gradient […]

VANHOOYDONCK, B.*; VAN DAMME, R.; AERTS, P.: Trade-offs in the evolution of locomotor performance: are speed and stamina correlated in lacertid lizards? Morphological and physiological considerations suggest that sprinting ability and endurance capacity put conflicting demands on the design of an animal’s locomotor apparatus, and therefore cannot be optimised simultaneously. To test this hypothesis, we […]